Supplemental Consolidating Data - Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jul. 01, 2018	Apr. 01, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jul. 01, 2018
Revenue:
Total revenue	$ 1,632,619		$ 1,713,223		$ 3,016,999	$ 3,255,344
Costs and expenses:
Costs and expenses	979,266		993,036		1,827,464	1,883,210
Financial Services interest expense	52,673		51,943		104,997	100,393
Provision for credit losses	26,383		18,880		60,874	48,932
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	307,617		313,047		576,242	603,233
Restructuring expense (benefit)	10,423		12,370		24,053	59,212
Total costs and expenses	1,376,362		1,389,276		2,593,630	2,694,980
Operating income	256,257		323,947		423,369	560,364
Other income (expense), net	4,037		645		8,697	865
Investment income	3,571		2,533		9,929	3,736
Interest expense	7,784		7,728		15,515	15,418
Income before provision for income taxes	256,081		319,397		426,480	549,547
Provision for income taxes	60,450		77,059		102,904	132,446
Net income	195,631	$ 127,945	242,338	$ 174,763	323,576	417,101
Motorcycles and Related Products
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	1,434,004		1,525,121		2,629,641	2,889,068
Financial Services
Revenue:
Financial Services	198,615		188,102		387,358	366,276
Eliminations
Revenue:
Total revenue	(3,263)		(3,610)		(5,645)	(6,195)
Costs and expenses:
Costs and expenses	505		0		0	0
Financial Services interest expense	0		0		0	0
Provision for credit losses	0		0		0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	(3,746)		(3,443)		(5,701)	(6,049)
Restructuring expense (benefit)	0		0		0	0
Total costs and expenses	(3,241)		(3,443)		(5,701)	(6,049)
Operating income	(22)		(167)		56	(146)
Other income (expense), net	0		0		0	0
Investment income	(45,000)		0		(90,000)	(110,000)
Interest expense	0		0		0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	(45,022)		(167)		(89,944)	(110,146)
Provision for income taxes	0		0		0	0
Net income	(45,022)		(167)		(89,944)	(110,146)
Eliminations | Motorcycles and Related Products
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	(5,681)		(2,924)		(10,053)	(5,223)
Eliminations | Financial Services
Revenue:
Financial Services	2,418		(686)		4,408	(972)
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations
Costs and expenses:
Restructuring expense (benefit)	10,423		12,370		24,053	59,212
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenue:
Total revenue	1,439,685		1,528,045		2,639,694	2,894,291
Costs and expenses:
Costs and expenses	978,761		993,036		1,827,464	1,883,210
Financial Services interest expense	0		0		0	0
Provision for credit losses	0		0		0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	267,777		276,827		495,769	531,228
Restructuring expense (benefit)	10,423		12,370		24,053	59,212
Total costs and expenses	1,256,961		1,282,233		2,347,286	2,473,650
Operating income	182,724		245,812		292,408	420,641
Other income (expense), net	4,037		645		8,697	865
Investment income	48,571		2,533		99,929	113,736
Interest expense	7,784		7,728		15,515	15,418
Income before provision for income taxes	227,548		241,262		385,519	519,824
Provision for income taxes	43,348		59,683		71,905	99,916
Net income	184,200		181,579		313,614	419,908
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations | Reportable Legal Entities | Motorcycles and Related Products
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	1,439,685		1,528,045		2,639,694	2,894,291
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations | Reportable Legal Entities | Financial Services
Revenue:
Financial Services	0		0		0	0
Financial Services Operations | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenue:
Total revenue	196,197		188,788		382,950	367,248
Costs and expenses:
Costs and expenses	0		0		0	0
Financial Services interest expense	52,673		51,943		104,997	100,393
Provision for credit losses	26,383		18,880		60,874	48,932
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	43,586		39,663		86,174	78,054
Restructuring expense (benefit)	0		0		0	0
Total costs and expenses	122,642		110,486		252,045	227,379
Operating income	73,555		78,302		130,905	139,869
Other income (expense), net	0		0		0	0
Investment income	0		0		0	0
Interest expense	0		0		0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	73,555		78,302		130,905	139,869
Provision for income taxes	17,102		17,376		30,999	32,530
Net income	56,453		60,926		99,906	107,339
Financial Services Operations | Reportable Legal Entities | Motorcycles and Related Products
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	0		0		0	0
Financial Services Operations | Reportable Legal Entities | Financial Services
Revenue:
Financial Services	$ 196,197		$ 188,788		$ 382,950	$ 367,248